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PresidentMICHAEL SWEENEY1st Vice PresidentKENNETH McGUIRE2nd Vice PresidentALFRED MURPHYSergeant-At-ArmsKEVIN HARRINGTONTreasurerHENRY DE VRIESExecutive SecretaryJOHN W. KENNA718-286-7055jwkenna@queensda.orgPresidents EmeritusJOSEPH J. GANNON* GERALD E. McCARTHY* CHARLES F. J. MEYERBoard of DirectorsJAMES FEYChairmanKEVIN FITZGERALD 2019MANNY GOMEZ 2019KEVIN PERHAM 2018JAMES J. COLEMAN 2018ALBERT S. BECKER 2017J. KEVIN VAUGHN 2017HistorianJAMES J. GRANTCommitteesAuditJOHN M. MURPHYEDWIN CUEBASJOSEPH PLONSKIWebmasterYAO LIANGInformation SytemsPETER ALEXANDERInterstate LiaisonRONALD T. SULLIVANJOSEPH P. FAUGHNANIntrastate LiaisonKEVIN A. NULTYLaw Enforcement LiaisonsROBERT J. CREIGHTONCORNELIUS J. DOUGLASLegalTHOMAS A. McSHANE, Esq.Membership ChairpersonI. AMY BONDEROWMembershipDANIEL SEPULVEDADAN O’LEARYScholarship Committee ChairMARIA MAMMANOPrivate Sector LiaisonTED LOTTIProgramCHARLES H. BOKLANKEVIN GREENDear National Law Enforcement Associates,As we Ring out the Old and Ring in the New I wish you all the best of health, wealth andhappiness for 2017. Another year has passed us by and what a year it was! For me personally, itwas filled with great opportunity and enjoyment in leading the NLEA as your President and to seethe organization continue to grow. It gives me great pleasure to see our events filled with friendsold and new; Friends that come to enjoy the comradery of our membership, the networking ofshared contacts and the freely shared expertise by our speakers.Recently, we celebrated the holiday season, with two successful events. Our Pre-Thanksgivingdinner was held at Bobby Van’s Steakhouse on Broad Street. We had the honor of having BillSweeney, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI New York Office as our guest speaker. As I promisedin the last newsletter, Assistant Director Sweeney gave a fantastic presentation and was embracedby our membership as one of its own. His speech not only educated us on the unique challenges ofhis position and the NY FBI office but also gave us insight to Bill as a law enforcement professionaland how much he respects, appreciates and values the cooperation and partnership between theFBI, local law enforcement and private security professionals. Bill as he prefers to be called is clearlya cop’s cop and a great asset to the metropolitan area and our country. He proved himself as atrusted law enforcement partner by his willingness to work hand in glove with the NYPD and the NJlaw enforcement agencies during the investigation of the Chelsea and NJ bombings which occurredSeptember 17th-19th, 2016 and resulted in the indictment of Ahmad Khan Rahimi.Thisinvestigation’s successful and rapid conclusion can be attributed to the NY FBI office being flexibleand willing to work around some agency procedures that conflicted between the FBI and the localpolice.This year’s Christmas Luncheon was again held at Pier Sixty, which has become a Christmastradition as we again filled the ballroom and enjoyed the most joyous “meet and greet” cocktail hourof the year. Our key note speakers, Boomer and Carton did an outstanding job of entertaining usand reminding us of what an important job our members in law enforcement do, day and night, tokeep our country safe.Public RelationsEUGENE J. BURKEDONALD J. MCGUIREWelfareJOHN P. McCANN* Deceasedwww.nationallaw.org

While making us laugh at stories from the locker room, team huddles and the radio broadcasting booth, they alsopraised us for the important work we do and reminded us how much the general public appreciates the police. Asthose who listen to the Boomer and Carton show know, they both continue to vocally support our nation’s lawenforcement and military, and they recognize the difficult job we have. They have stood fast in support, even inrecent times where certain public figures and media outlets made support of public safety an unpopular subject.The NLEA membership dues and monies raised at this event allowed the NLEA to make a donation to the BoomerEsiason Foundation, which helps people from all walks of life combat Cystic Fibrosis and supports the research neededto find a cure.We also donated to the Tick-Tock- Stop organization, an organization supported by Craig Carton. Tic-Toc-Stop isdedicated to the science of Tourette’s syndrome (TS), the development of coping mechanisms for patients andfamilies, and finding a cure. It was a great pleasure to make these donations on behalf of the NLEA membership andknow that both these foundations supported by Boomer and Carton are doing great things for children and adults inneed of our support.NLEA Challenge CoinThis year, the NLEA Board gave its members and guests attending the Christmas Luncheon, the holiday gift of a newlyminted NLEA Challenge Coin. This coin was designed and created with the mission of the NLEA in mind and its valuesof Tradition, Professionalism, Unity and Honor, exhibited over the years by its membership since the NLEA wasestablished in 1946. The blue line American flag image on the back is new take on the Thin Blue Line Flag. Picturedbelow.Meaning of the Thin Blue Line Flag according to Wikipedia is that the blue represents the officer and the courage theyfind deep inside when faced with insurmountable odds. The Black background was designed as a constant reminder ofour fallen brother and sister officers.NLEA newly minted challenge coinWhen researching Challenge Coin history, Wikipedia published the following:A challenge coin is a small coin or medallion (usually military), bearing an organization’s insignia or emblem andcarried by the organization’s members. Traditionally, they are given to prove membership when challenged and toenhance morale. In addition, they are also collected by service members. In practice, challenge coins are normally2

presented by unit commanders in recognition of special achievement by a member of the unit. They are alsoexchanged in recognition of visits to an organization.According to the most common story, challenge coins originated during World War I. Before the entry of the UnitedStates into the war in 1917 American volunteers from all parts of the country filled the newly formed flying squadrons.Some were wealthy scions attending colleges such as Yale and Harvard who quit in mid-term to join the war.In one squadron, a wealthy lieutenant ordered medallions struck in solid bronze and presented them to his unit. Oneyoung pilot placed the medallion in a small leather pouch that he wore about his neck. Shortly after acquiring themedallion, the pilot's aircraft was severely damaged by ground fire. He was forced to land behind enemy lines and wasimmediately captured by a German patrol. In order to discourage his escape, the Germans took all of his personalidentification except for the small leather pouch around his neck. In the meantime, he was taken to a small Frenchtown near the front. Taking advantage of a bombardment that night, he escaped. However, he was without personalidentification. He succeeded in avoiding German patrols by donning civilian attire and reached the front lines. Withgreat difficulty, he crossed no-man's land. Eventually, he stumbled onto a French outpost. Saboteurs had plagued theFrench in the sector. They sometimes masqueraded as civilians and wore civilian clothes. Not recognizing the youngpilot's American accent, the French thought him to be a saboteur and made ready to execute him. He had noidentification to prove his allegiance, but he did have his leather pouch containing the medallion. He showed themedallion to his would-be executioners and one of his French captors recognized the squadron insignia on themedallion. They delayed his execution long enough for him to confirm his identity. Instead of shooting him they gavehim a bottle of wine.Back at his squadron, it became tradition to ensure that all members carried their medallion or coin at all times. Thiswas accomplished through challenge in the following manner: a challenger would ask to see the medallion, if thechallenged could not produce a medallion, they were required to buy a drink of choice for the member whochallenged them. If the challenged member produced a medallion, then the challenging member was required to payfor the drink. This tradition continued throughout the war and for many years after the war while surviving membersof the squadron were still alive.NLEA Christmas Holiday Luncheon at Pier Sixty3

NLEA President presents keynote speakers Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton with PlateNLEA Members Stephen Rose, Kevin Fitzgibbons, Maria Mammano and Joe BellomoNYPD Police Commissioner-James O’Neill, NLEA President- Mike Sweeney and ADIC of FBI NY-Joe Sweeney4

Some Note Worthy Current EventsThe attached photo on the left was taken on December 6, 2016 at USMC Camp Lejune. Thomas de Vries, sonof retired NYSP Captain Henry de Vries (NLEA Treasurer) during Thomas' promotion ceremony to Captainin the United States Marine Corps. Henry de Vries had the honor of pinning his son with his NYSP uniformcaptain bars. Thomas was deployed in January 2017 to Afghanistan providing logistical support to a SpecialOperations Joint Task Force of US Army, Air Force, and Marine Corp operations. On the right, CaptaindeVries explores the Queen’s Palace ruins in Kabul, Afghanistan.5

Congratulations to the daughter of Kevin Fitzgerald,Kaila (Above Right), and the Marist College Dance Squadfor being invited and performing at President DonaldTrump’s Inauguration.Clearly they are excited to be part of such a monumentalday in our countries history.The NLEA welcomes President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. Interestingly President Trump is our45th President to hold office and Michael Pence is the 48th Vice President of the United States.Members of the NLEA along with so many in law Enforcement and our community, attended Steven McDonald’sFuneral at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral on January 13th, 2017. Steven will be missed but his message of forgivenessMembers of the NLEA along with so many in law Enforcement and our community, attended Steven McDonald’swill be remembered forever. Please keep Steven andhis family in your prayers. God Bless.Funeral at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral on January 13th, 2017. Steven will be missed but his message of forgivenesswill be remembered forever. Please keep Steven and his family in your prayers. God Bless.6